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bluestjuice's review against another edition
3.0
In what is at this point an endless tangle, somehow Nell and I recommended this series back and forth to each other (but we both ended up reading book 2 first). This is book 1. I picked it up because I don't like reading series out of order, but unfortunately since it had been a few months since I read the other installation I no longer remember some of the finer plot points from that book and can't remember how anything develops from here. But anyway! This is a graphic novel written at a children's reading level, about twins (this book actually has two sets of twins!) and their semi-orphaned adventures on pirate and other ships on their way to San Francisco. It touches loads of classic child adventure novel tropes (think Treasure Island, Oliver Twist, The Swiss Family Robinson, etc.), but in an updated way that is much more likely to appeal to modern children who have a hard time connecting with antiquated writing styles and genres. (Oh, I got a little bit of Twelfth Night in here too, with the twins-dressing-as-boys element.)
Anyway, I liked it, and my kid was super excited when she saw I had it and demanded that I hand it over at once so she could devour it. (I didn't - I finished it first. She can request her own books from the library, haha!) It's not really substantial enough to earn a more glowing rating, but that is more down to my own interest in the genre and the necessary limitations of the genre than the merits of the writing and art within those constraints. I'd definitely recommend.
Anyway, I liked it, and my kid was super excited when she saw I had it and demanded that I hand it over at once so she could devour it. (I didn't - I finished it first. She can request her own books from the library, haha!) It's not really substantial enough to earn a more glowing rating, but that is more down to my own interest in the genre and the necessary limitations of the genre than the merits of the writing and art within those constraints. I'd definitely recommend.
ohnoohkei's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
lheili's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
aoosterwyk's review against another edition
5.0
Wahoo! What fun!
This graphic novel reminded me of Oliver Twist and Captain Hornblower all at once. Red-headed twins are left to fend for themselves, get caught up in a thieving street gang, run into another set of red-headed twins, are sold into bondage on a sailing ship, lost in a jungle, ... you get the picture.
This graphic novel reminded me of Oliver Twist and Captain Hornblower all at once. Red-headed twins are left to fend for themselves, get caught up in a thieving street gang, run into another set of red-headed twins, are sold into bondage on a sailing ship, lost in a jungle, ... you get the picture.
mtong987's review against another edition
3.0
The story was promising, but ended super abruptly. I didn't love the artwork. It looks nice, but didn't give much detail to what was going on in the story. Sometimes they were too small to make out solid details that would have aided the story.
maryehavens's review against another edition
4.0
Delightful adventure of two sets of twins traveling to San Francisco. Set in the late 1800s, the twins' journeys begin in New York, travel to Panama/Cape Horn (they are on different ships), and then finally end with a variety of mishaps and discoveries along the way. Perfect read if you are looking for a seafaring, pirate adventure with the promise of treasure :)
On to book 2!
On to book 2!
maureen_fox's review against another edition
4.0
A lot of fun, and the plot is thickening just in time for the sequel.
bookgirl4ever's review against another edition
3.0
After their mother dies, baby twins Alexander and Cleopatra are to live with a man in America who was in love with her but isn't their real father. Father needs money to take care of the kids, and disappears, leaving Alexander and Cleopatra to fend for themselves. They join a local gang, but when a theft goes wrong and it comes down to Alexander going to prison or Cleopatra giving away the location of the gang's hideout, Cleopatra chooses her brother. They decide to disappear and pose as the long-lost red-haired twins of a rich man across the country in San Francisco. Cleopatra cuts off her hair and poses as a brother. Then the twins run into another set of red-haired twins who are hoping to pull off the same hoax, learn they are being chased not only by their old gang but a band of pirates, and they get split up as they make their way West. A lot happens in this first installment, but teens will feel for the main characters and enjoy the adventure and suspense.
rdyourbookcase's review against another edition
5.0
What a swashbuckling adventure! I had so much fun reading Compass South! I stumbled across it while shelving at the library, and I’m so glad I did.
TWO SETS of red-headed twins!
Pirates!
Gangs!
A girl pretending to be a boy!
Robbery!
Identity theft!
Travel!
Treasure!
Ciphers!
What more could you ask for? Really.
TWO SETS of red-headed twins!
Pirates!
Gangs!
A girl pretending to be a boy!
Robbery!
Identity theft!
Travel!
Treasure!
Ciphers!
What more could you ask for? Really.